Retiree runs through Vermont

David “Devo” DeVarney, a 61-year-old graduate of Winooski High School, Class of 1973, and Vermont 251 Club member, will be completing his goal of running through Vermont’s 251’s towns and cities when he arrives at Winooski’s Eugene Richards Memorial Park, Sunday, Nov. 12, at 11 a.m.

DeVarney is a retired U.S. Navy senior chief petty officer and a defense industry analyst currently residing in Bristol, R.I., with his wife Victoria.

DeVarney began his journey April 24, 2016, when he competed in the Maple Sap Run from Swanton to Saint Albans.

Since then, he visited Vermont two weeks each month, running nearly nine miles a day.

During his treks, he either received shuttle assistance from friends and family or he would return to each day’s starting point via bicycle.

Upon completion of his goal, he will have run slightly less than 1,600 miles over 172 days.

He has been an on-again/off-again runner throughout his life. In early 2011, at the advice of his doctor, he slowly and painfully got back into running.

During that time, he contemplated running across the U.S. in 2016 in honor of the National Park Service Centennial but decided he was not physically, mentally, or financially ready, so he decided he would attempt to visit Vermont’s 251 towns and cities as a personal goal. This would enable him to get a feel of what he will have to deal with during a transcontinental run.

He also wanted to do this as a passive method to motivate others to what they can accomplish, within their own health limitations, if they take a few extra steps each day.

Vermont 251 Club archives indicate that DeVarney is the first member to complete the goal of visiting all 251 Vermont towns by running.

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